Oklahoma Court Blocks Bible Mandate in Schools

Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters has filed a motion with the state Supreme Court to lift a stay, issued in March, that blocks both the purchase and implementation of a Bible mandate for public school classrooms. The court order was enacted amidst ongoing litigation, with opponents arguing the mandate violates the separation of church and state and infringes on religious freedom. Walters maintains the Bible is essential for understanding American history and has denounced opposition as an attack on Christianity and foundational values. In response to the legal blockade, Walters has announced partnerships to promote Bible donations to schools, reaffirming his goal to place Bibles in classrooms by the fall. Civil liberties groups, including the ACLU, have welcomed the court's intervention as a significant defense of religious freedom for Oklahoma students and families. The Supreme Court has not yet ruled on Walters' motion.